“What in the World? Weekly Quiz" | Dec 6-12, 2021

A global affairs awareness service provided by the
Tennessee World Affairs Council

CLICK IMAGE FOR QUIZ

Thanks to quiz masters McKinney Harwood and Patrick Ryan and @TNWAC News Editor Campbell Lahman for this week’s quiz.

LAST WEEK’S QUIZ WINNERS

Eric Abbott, Oxford, CT
Jonathon Wood, Smyrna, TN
Steve Freidberg, Boston, MA
Sheri Sellmeyer, Nashville, TN
David Hillinck, Huntsville, AL
Sally Farris, San Antonio, TX
Deborah Monroe, Nashville, TN
Donna Heffner, Ponte Verde Beach, FL
Zofia Hunter, Nashville, TN
Nancy Williams, Rochester, NY
Rich Buck, Peoria, IL
Tim Steward, Nashville, TN
Angela Weck, Edwards, IL
Bernie Drake, Peoria, IL
Charles Bowers, Nashville, TN
William H., New Orleans, LA
Paul McLaughlin, Louisville, KY
Leslie Fort, Atlanta, GA
Peter Sharadin, Blandon, PA
Ellie Li, UAE
Jon Fitch, Louisville, KY
Kabir Zaman, Charleston, SC
Elliot Tick, Charleston, SC
Basil G. Smith, Jacksonville, FL
Barbara Gubbin, Jacksonville, FL
Tonya Sipes, Buckner, KY
Colleen Ryan, Nashville, TN

WELL DONE!

Hey! Dozens of quiz takers are on our weekly winners list. You will be eligible for our end of month quiz prize if you become a TNWAC member. Join today to be in the running for the monthly quiz prize.

DECEMBER QUIZ PRIZE

By Tim Marshall

From the author of the New York Times bestseller Prisoners of Geography, the highly anticipated follow-up that uses ten maps of crucial regions around the globe to explain the geopolitical strategies of today’s world powers and what it means for our future.

Tim Marshall’s global bestseller Prisoners of Geography offered us a “fresh way of looking at maps” (The New York Times Book Review), showing how every nation’s choices are limited by mountains, rivers, seas and concrete. Since then, the geography hasn’t changed, but the world has.

Now, in this revelatory new book, Marshall takes us into ten regions that are set to shape global politics and power. Find out why the Earth’s atmosphere is the world’s next battleground; why the fight for the Pacific is just beginning; and why Europe’s next refugee crisis is closer than we think.

In ten chapters covering Australia, The Sahel, Greece, Turkey, the UK, Iran, Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia, Spain and Space, Marshall explains how a region’s geography and physical characteristics affect the decisions made by its leaders. Innovative, compelling, and delivered with Marshall’s trademark wit and insight, this is a gripping and enlightening exploration of the power of geography to shape humanity’s past, present, and—most importantly—our future.

LAST WEEK’S QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

What in the World? Quiz – Week of November 29-December 5, 2021

1. The World Health Organization (WHO) uses the Greek alphabet to name variants of the Covid-19 virus. The B.1.1.529 variant announced last week, which causes alarm due to its many mutations, has been given THIS name. [#WACquiz]

A. Mu
B. Omicron
C. Xi
D. Gamma

Correct Response: B. Omicron
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/27/world/africa/omicron-covid-greek-alphabet.html

2. The Omicron variant of Covid-19, which is highly transmissible, has been discovered in Asia, Australia and Europe as of November 28th. Omicron was first identified in THIS country. [#WACquiz]

A. South Sudan
B. Democratic Republic of Congo
C. Bangladesh
D. South Africa

Correct Response: D. South Africa
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/11/28/omicron-variant-coronavirus/

3. The President of Ukraine claimed a coup was planned against his government next week by Russians caught on tape but stopped short of blaming the Kremlin. WHO is President of Ukraine? [#WACquiz]

A. Volodymyr Zelenskiy
B. Victor Orban
C. János Áder
D. Klaus Iohannis

Correct Response: A. Volodymyr Zelenskiy
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-has-information-about-december-coup-attempt-with-russian-involvement-2021-11-26/

4. Russia’s Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu signed a roadmap to improve military relations with THIS nation to include increased strategic military exercises and patrols. [#WACquiz]

A. Belarus
B. Ukraine
C. China
D. North Korea

Correct Response: C. China
https://www.military.com/daily-news/2021/11/23/russia-china-sign-roadmap-closer-military-cooperation.html

5. The next Chancellor of Germany, the most influential nation in the European Union, is THIS former Mayor of Hamburg who worked to convince voters he was most like his predecessor, Angela Merkel. [#WACquiz]

A. Annalena Baerbock
B. Armin Laschet
C. Maximilian Berlitz
D. Olaf Scholz

Correct Response: D. Olaf Scholz
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/24/world/europe/germany-new-chancellor-olaf-scholz.html?smtyp=cur&smid=tw-nytimes
Photo: Frank Schwichtenberg, Creative Commons (CC)

6. Military and civilian leaders in THIS nation agree last week to reinstate Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok who was pushed out of office in a coup in October, two years after longtime autocrat Omar Hassan al-Bashir was deposed in a coup. [WACA WWNU]

A. Egypt
B. Sudan
C. Kenya
D. South Africa

Correct Response: B. Sudan
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/11/21/sudan-military-coup-civilian-deal-hamdok-burhan/

7. Moscow’s buildup of ground forces near the border with Ukraine is an ominous sign of a possible invasion. The military takeover and annexation of THIS territory in 2014 was a sign of Russian designs on the country. [WACA WWNU]

A. Kaliningrad
B. Crimea
C. Nagorno-Karabakh
D. Moldova

Correct Response: B. Crimea
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/ukraine/2021-11-22/russia-wont-let-ukraine-go-without-fight

8. After holding talks with top-level military officials on strengthening the armed forces, Chinese President Xi Jinping said, “It is necessary to … improve the actual ability to win modern wars.” Meanwhile 27 Chinese warplanes tested the Air Defense Zone of THIS nation, spurring alertment of fighters and missile batteries. [#WACquiz]

A. Japan
B. Taiwan
C. Philippines
D. Indonesia

Correct Response: B. Taiwan
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/taiwan-reports-27-chinese-air-force-planes-air-defence-zone-2021-11-28/

9. Soon to be the world’s newest republic THIS Caribbean nation is about to be fully independent from the British Commonwealth at transition ceremonies that include the visiting British heir apparent, Prince Charles. [#WACquiz]

A. Barbados
B. Malta
C. Falklands
D. Antigua

Correct Response: A. Barbados
https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/28/americas/barbados-to-remove-queen-head-of-state-republic-intl-cmd-gbr/index.html

10. The disputatious relationship between London and Paris turned more bitter after THIS happened in the English Channel on Wednesday. [#WACquiz]

A. Collision between a British ferry and French warship that failed to yield.
B. Migrant boat sank killing 27.
C. French revenue service vessel seized three British fishing boats.
D. British tanker ran aground near Normandy spilling 20,000 gallons of oil.

Correct Response: B. Migrant boat sank killing 27.
https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/25/europe/uk-france-channel-crossing-deaths-intl-gbr/index.html

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THE MISSION of the nonprofit, nonpartisan Tennessee World Affairs Council is to promote international awareness, understanding and connections to enhance the region’s global stature and to prepare Tennesseans to thrive in our increasingly complex and connected world.

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